(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board met in a regular session this (Wednesday) evening. As part of their consent agenda, the Board approved the following resignations: Michelle Blake, HS Volleyball Coach; Joseph Brummer, MS Track Coach; Mallory Robinson, District Communications Specialist; Laurie Parrott, HS Paraeducator, and Matt Best, Asst. Boys Track Coach.

The Board also approved contracts for/the hiring of: Desiree Kent, Paraeducator at Schuler Elementary; William Lawson, Paraeducator for the Therapeutic Classroom; Rob Kirchner, Asst. Archery Coach; Julie Phippen, Wrestling Cheer Coach; Bryan Armstrong & Stephanie Kinzie, Wrestling Girls Chaperone and Drivers; Adam Roberts & Hailee Copeland, Volunteer Archery Coaches; Cale Roller, Dillon Cox, Josh perkins, Mike Greving, Adam Smith and Caleb Smith, as Volunteer Wrestling Coaches; Jacey Hoegh & Zach Christensen, Volunteer Basketball Coaches.

Atlantic School Board meeting (Zoom Image) 11/8/23

In her report to the Board, Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen mentioned a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held 10-a.m. Thursday (Nov. 9th), for the new Washington Elementary School Playground.

Cookies and coffee will be available for adults. The project consisted of limited pavement demolition, removal and disposal of existing play equipment and tile surfacing, installation of new equipment, installation and repair of the concrete base, installation of new play surfacing, and site restoration. Caliber Concrete of Adair was the contractor for the project, which cost a total of $582,340.

Dr. Johnsen also updated the Board on District enrollment data.

Some of the increase, she said, is attributed to a large Kindergarten group.

Dr. Johnsen said also, the ELL population is also increasing over last year. There are less open-enrollment out’s than in previous years, and a likely increase in open-enrolled in.

The Board then discussed an Early Retirement Incentive Plan. The consensus to select Option 2, which means it would be offered for employees with a minimum of 20-years of service to the District. The Board approved the plan as presented, with the idea being to get a jump on recruitment of new, seasoned employees, and act as a cost savings. The open positions may then be advertised to candidates who have at least 10-years of employment with a school district.

The Board also approved the list of Coaches for Spring Sports, with the exception of the Head Boys Golf Coach (until there is more information), and an Out-of-State Travel request. Other action items included approval of: Snow Removal bids; and a Resolution related to the Washington Elementary School Playground.

The Board’s next meeting is an Organizational session with newly elected Board Members at 5:30-p.m. on November 29th. The next Regular School Board meeting is on December 13th.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Education say a newly released national report has Iowa named as one of the top 10 states for computer science education. Code.org, the leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the United States, has ranked Iowa as seventh in the nation for providing high-quality computer science education in public schools. Iowa’s ranking is tied with Connecticut and is the first time the state has jumped in the top 10 for computer science. During the 2022-23 school year, Iowa saw a significant increase from 71 percent to 83 percent of high schools providing foundational computer science opportunities.

Justin Lewis, computer science education consultant at the Iowa Department of Education, says “We are proud to be recognized by a computer science leader like Code.org. The ranking is a reflection of the collaborative work within our state to ensure students receive high-quality computer science education.”

State rankings are identified by the implementation of 10 recommended policies that make computer science education foundational. These policies include the following initiatives:

• Create a statewide plan for K-12 computer science
• Define computer science and establish standards for K-12 computer science
• Allocate funding for rigorous professional learning for computer science teachers
• Implement clear certification pathways for computer science teachers at elementary and secondary levels
• Create programs at institutions of higher education for preservice teachers
• Establish dedicated computer science positions at state education agencies
• Require that schools offer computer science with appropriate implementation timelines
• Allow computer science to count towards core graduation requirement
• Allow computer science to satisfy an admission requirement at higher education institutions
• Require that all students take computer science to earn a high school diploma

Iowa scored highly in seven of the 10 categories and received recommendations for improvement in two areas: creating programs for preservice teachers and implementing a computer science requirement for graduation. Lewis noted that these two areas are anticipated to be addressed over the next year.

“In just a few short years, we have significantly moved computer science education forward in Iowa,” he said. “Through several intensive professional development opportunities, grant funding, STEM education priorities and, of course, the implementation of the computer science requirement at all grade levels, we have seen tremendous success. We will continue this important work to fill other gaps to ensure Iowa is at the top for computer science education.”

Initiatives such as the STEM Scale-Up program and Teacher Externships program through the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Department have brought high-quality resources to computer science classrooms and have contributed to the state’s impact. Additionally, immersive professional development opportunities like Computer Science Professional Development Week have been a priority for Iowa. Funded by the Department, Computer Science Professional Development Week has offered Iowa teachers a week-long opportunity to learn directly from computer science experts and leading teachers in the field.

In 2020, House File 2629 established that all accredited Iowa high schools provide at least one computer science course by the 2022-23 school year. Middle schools also must now offer computer science instruction in either seventh or eighth grade, and elementary schools must offer it in at least one grade.

(Radio Iowa) – A Waterloo clinic was swamped with calls in recent weeks after opening the rental application process for its apartments that are designed for rehabilitating Iowans with mental illnesses. It’s only the third such intensive residential support home in Iowa. Elevate Behavioral Health Clinic has a two-unit, five-bedroom apartment complex providing short-term care for residents with intellectual disabilities. Apartment director Paige Smith says the response was overwhelming, even before the apartments were available to lease.

The apartment complex is next door to the clinic, which Smith says goes a long way to providing an exceptional level of support to residents.

The first tenants are scheduled to move in this week. The clinic plans to turn over rooms every three months to a year.

Des Moines, IA – Rural communities continue to face hazards associated with working in and around grain structures. In 2022 alone, there were at least 42 grain entrapments – the highest number in over a decade – resulting in 15 fatalities¹. To help prevent tragic accidents and deaths, Nationwide and its partners are providing life-saving grain rescue tubes and training to 60 fire departments across rural America through its 2023 Grain Bin Safety campaign.

Locally, the Minden, IA, fire department – Minden Volunteer Fire & Rescue  – was one of the winners that was awarded a grain rescue tube and training this year. These resources are being brought to the community thanks to donations from HTS Ag. In addition, the Guthrie Center Fire Department received grain bin rescue training through the program.

Grain bin rescue tube/training (Nationwide Insurance photo)

In partnership with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Nationwide and its partners have now supplied grain rescue equipment and training to 332 first responders across 32 states to help prepare them when local grain entrapments occur.

After receiving thousands of nominations in the 2023 Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, an annual component of Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign, the insurer and its partners are proud to have awarded grain rescue tubes and training to the following fire departments in Iowa, this year (in addition to the Minden and Guthrie Center Fire Departments):

Center Point Fire Department, Center Point, IA

Hudson Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Hudson, IA

North Liberty Fire Department, North Liberty, IA

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising, in partnership with Hy-Vee, will continue to lead the Christmas Box Program this holiday season. The program was originally started by West Central Community Action over 20 years ago. The Jaycees took the program over soon after it started and then passed the program to Atlantic Rising in 2018.

“This program helps families and individuals in need of a Christmas dinner,” Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.

“Atlantic Rising members, along with community volunteers, delivered boxes to 180 individuals and families last year. With today’s continued challenges, we expect to see a continued increase in nominations this year,” Beschorner adds.

Atlantic Rising is preparing for the 7th Annual Trivia Night that will take place early next year. The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Saturday Night Live and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to create team themes to add to the fun of the evening.

“Trivia Night is the organization’s main fundraising event for Christmas Boxes, and year after year participants enjoy a fun night while raising money for an impactful project. With the projected numbers of families served, we will also be reaching out to businesses and community members asking for donations and volunteers to help serve as many families as possible. Any time our community needs us, we are there to put in the work,” added Beschorner.

On December 14th, members of Atlantic Rising and local volunteers will fill and deliver boxes of food items to families and individuals who can then use them to cook Christmas dinner.

“Atlantic Rising is proud to carry on this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with Hy-Vee and give back to the community in such a great way,” Beschorner stated.

To nominate a family or individual, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Atlantic Rising at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.